Humor Sells Why making people laugh can help you bring in the business

(YoungBiz.com) - There's a saying in theadvertising world: "Humor sells." That's why mostcommercials are funny and why many companies and products havefunny-sounding names. You should be thinking of ways to use humorin your business, too. Here's why.

• Humor helps customers remember you. Your friends mayknow that your yard cleanup business is "Bobby's YardCare," but a customer who can't recall your name can lookat his yard full of leaves and easily remember it if it'scalled "Leaf It to Me."
• Laughter makes people feel good. When customers laughbecause of your funny company name or the silly picture on thepackage, they associate that good feeling with doing business withyou.
• A sense of humor is an admirable quality. We like peoplewho can take their business seriously while taking themselveslightly.

OK, you're convinced that humor sells. How can you use it inyour business? Here are four easy ways:

1. Business name. Look for afamiliar saying that sounds similar to your product or service. Ifyou have a bicycle repair business, you could change the phrase"Love at first sight" to "Love That FirstBike."

2. Promotion. Spice up yourflier with a humorous picture of you doing your job. For example,if your business is decorating cakes, ask an artistic friend todraw a cartoon of you dressed as a painter painting a cake.

3. Packaging. Your productmay not be funny, but that doesn't mean it can't come in afunny box or bag. Your handmade animal earrings might catch acustomer's eye if they're displayed and delivered in aplastic eggshell with cracks painted on the outside.

4. Product. Sell somethingthat makes people laugh, like funny greeting cards, cartoonT-shirts, clown noses, caricatures or crazy neckties.

So put on a funny hat and start thinking about ways you can usehumor in your business. Remember, humor sells.andsells.and sells. A customer wearing a smile is the best freeadvertising your business can have!